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an ill turn. Go home and cosset your wife until my temper cools." |
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"Do you mean I am not to come to Winchester for Christmas?" William asked, his voice low and hurt. |
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"No, of course not. If you wish, you may accompany Isabella there. I am angry, but I am not unjust. In fact, I had talked myself around to accepting this stupid business. If you had not come here with your talk of a grand weddingand a fine bunch of rebels you have been consorting with" |
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"Rebels? I? Oxford? And Leicester is no rebel, no matter how much he sits on his own lands instead of coming himself to support you as he should. He will help no other man, either." |
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"And Pembroke? And Llewelyn?" |
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"Of Llewelyn, who can say? Even de Vipont, who is some kind of clan blood brother, does not know from day to day what the Welshman will do. For now, you may trust to Joan. But as to Pembrokeyou know we do not agree. Pembroke is no rebel. He even spoke for you in the matter of the costs of this war." |
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"William," John said, his lovely voice high with exasperation, "shut your mouth! If you cease to talk, perhaps I can bring myself to do what I had intended, which was to put a good face on this matter and pay Lord Ian and his wife a visit of honor. If I have to listen to you argue, I will go straight to Winchester and" |
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"But brother, where are you going if not to Winchester?" |
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"I was going to Iford, where I have heard Lord Ian and his lady are now staying," John snapped. |
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Salisbury smiled warmly. "That is truly kind and generous. How glad I am that I rode down to meet you." |
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The words sparked a question in the king's mind that he had been too angry to voice or even to think of before. "Ah, yes, how did you know I was come? I sent you no word of it." |
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